Press Releases

Binghamton, NY – Standing at the Addiction Center of Broome County with substance use treatment providers, local community leaders, and law enforcement, U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19) today announced the introduction of the Fentanyl Seizure and Health Recovery Act. The bill was introduced in response to the ongoing open border issues, which have brought deadly drugs and even a Peruvian gang leader to Broome County. He introduced this bill alongside U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV-1).

Rep. Molinaro's bipartisan bill redirects funding and assets seized from the trafficking of fentanyl and other illegally produced opioids to the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Program (SUBG). This program supports life-saving substance use treatment and recovery services in New York and across the country. 

Rep. Molinaro said, "Because of the open border, a Peruvian gang leader ended up in Broome County and drug traffickers are allowed to get deadly drugs over the border and into our communities. Broome County and New York’s 19th Congressional District have now become the epicenter of the opioid epidemic in New York. My bipartisan bill is simple: it takes money from drug traffickers and gives it to substance use treatment like the Addiction Center of Broome County to help those struggling with addiction recover. It takes something bad and uses it for good.”

Carmela Pirich, Executive Director for Addiction Center of Broome County said, “ACBC is proud to have US Congressman Molinaro at the Center for Addiction and Trauma Recovery to talk about his federal efforts that will assist individuals and families impacted by addiction.  There were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2023.  This is more than twice the amount of people that could fit in Yankee stadium.  Even though we are making progress on a local level, there needs to be a high level of cooperation and coordination with federal, state and community-based partners.  September is recognized nationally as Recovery Month; the more resources and attention we can bring to the substance use disorder epidemic the better. In Endicott, we are serving 150 patients and their families, with our youngest service recipient being four years old.  It’s never too early to provide education, support and shed light on ways that our community members can heal and recover.”

Rep. Titus said, “During Overdose Awareness Week, I’m proud to co-lead legislation with Rep. Molinaro that tackles the opioid and fentanyl crisis head-on. While we’ve made strides in recent years to crack down on traffickers, stop the flow of fentanyl precursors, and save lives, overdose deaths still take thousands of lives every year. This bill leverages existing federal law to provide funding that invests in substance use disorder treatment, prevention, and education at the local level, ensuring that all 50 states and U.S. territories have the resources to combat this epidemic.”

Rep. Molinaro has been a leading advocate on combatting the opioid epidemic and expanding access to mental health and substance use treatment across Upstate New York. He introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier to access Narcan, fought to secure a designation to combat drug trafficking and fatal overdoses, worked to expand the stabilization center model across Upstate New York, and is fighting for statewide use of a federally insured reversal agent to combat opioid overdoses.

He is fighting for border security. In May 2023, Rep. Molinaro voted to pass the Secure the Border Act, which closes the border and streamlines the asylum seeking process. He’s also partnered with Democrat Rep. Pat Ryan to request a federal emergency be declared on the border crisis and pass the bipartisan Schools Not Shelters Act, which prevents Governor Kathy Hochul from housing migrants in K-12 schools.